A Long Hauler Redditor.
A review of a long hauler’s self-reported story posted across 9+ months of reddit posts.
A person with the handle “Hi_its_GOD” on Reddit, has posted over time, about multiple treatments for POTS and other symptoms consistent with Long Covid, which they attribute to possibly what they reference as “infection and vaccination events” since 2021, but did not consider that it could be covid related until 2023 and being diagnosed with POTS by a cardiologist. They work at a restaurant that they co-own, including as a chef and line cook and managing the front. (Does everyone remember the headlines about the study that showed that line cook was one of the most risky jobs in the pandemic, with a high death rate from the virus?)[1]
This person details their attempts at treatment, from stating they drove from Pennsylvania to Alabama to be a patient of Dr. Jordan Vaughn, telling about their taking supplements and off label prescriptions, to going to great lengths to do Long Covid clinic treatments over the course of just under a year. None of this can be verified of course since they’re an anonymous redditor, and as I read through their posts, I started to hope it’s not true and just something like the John Titor hoax.[2] But though it’s disturbing, it’s not unbelievable based on a lot of other stories I have seen and heard about from other people, on Reddit, other forums, and social media — about the things people are doing to experiment on themselves searching for help and relief.
Hi_its_GOD is also active in other parts of Reddit, has a long history of posts pre-pandemic,[3] and is active on the subreddit for restaurant owners.[4] Hi_its_GOD posted on June 6, 2023 asking about Dr. Jordan Vaughn because they planned a visit, driving from where they live in Pennsylvania to Alabama, after being diagnosed with POTS by a cardiologist. They said: “stumbled on this community on a whim when I googled POTS and long COVID (never really considered I had LC up until that point)” and say: “I’ve honestly felt off since my first vaccine in April 2021. So did I make these microclots during these infection and vaccination events when spike protein was abundant and these clots have just stuck around since then?”[5] So they’re saying they hadn’t considered that it could be long covid (or the vaccine), until they’re diagnosed with POTS by an actual cardiologist. But then decided to seek treatment out of state. And it’s important to note that the “spike protein” does not hang around after getting a covid vaccination.[6]
On June 26, 2023, Hi_its_GOD posted in the r/covidlonghaulers reddit saying Dr. Vaughn had “graded” their “microclots pervasiveness” as 3.5/4.0. They said they expected to take an antiviral plus 3 blood thinners, but they gave them a script for ivermectin, which they were skeptical about, but also had heard the (inaccurate) defense that the studies were supposedly “designed to fail”.[7] (There’s no evidence of this.)
Hi_its_GOD asks: “Which antivirals have you considered taking, in light of viral persistence theory? Pavolix, metformin, acyclovir, ivermectin?” I think that’s a misspelling of Paxlovid. And nobody in the thread points out that only Paxlovid and acyclovir are the antivirals. Metformin is not an antiviral — though it’s being studied for antiviral effects. Eric Topol talks about the promising data on metformin, but they don’t use the word “antiviral” and mentions that the results are still preliminary on metformin and potential covid treatment benefits.[8] Ivermectin is an anthelmintic[9] which is a type of antiparasitic drug, and it has really been discredited for covid purposes.[10] But that didn’t stop someone replying to Hi_its_GOD to claim that “Ivermectin is pretty harmless. It’s kind of a miracle drug but not miraculous enough for LC.”[11] (Ivermectin is not a miracle drug, it’s just a drug that’s ineffective for covid, and it’s not harmless.)[12]
In August 2023, Hi_its_GOD reports that they’ve finished their first month of treatment and are no better, but they’re going to continue at least another month — Hi_its_GOD says “We’re doing triple therapy to heal our endothelium and chronic inflammation, but the problem seems like the micro clots will always return if there is latent virus in our systems producing spike protein in this fibrin amyloid clots.”[13] (The cause of Long Covid symptoms is not actually known, and may be multiple different things in different people.)
On September 11, 2023, Hi_its_GOD reported starting low dose naltrexone. Not clear who prescribed this, but naltrexone is not an OTC drug, it requires a prescription. But it sounds like this person was adjusting their medication on their own, and assuming the side effects will be a temporary “hump” to get over, though they said it was making them feel worse. And someone who replied suggested that Hi_its_GOD go to some Facebook group for medical advice on dosing for a prescription medicine they’re taking off-label.[14]
On October 1, 2023, Hi_its_GOD posted another thread, spelling Dysautonomia incorrectly, and said that they’re still titering down on “low dose naltrexone”, and describe having vertigo, head pressure, and fatigue, and worse brain fog and dysautonomia than before starting the naltrexone.[15] For some reason nobody in these threads suggests consulting the doctor who off-label prescribed this drug.
On October 16, 2023, Hi_its_GOD posted another thread with all the things they say they’re taking, saying: “I am currently working with Dr. Jordan Vaghn since May 2023 (5 Months) and he has me on this current regimen.” And then they list them out. Including:
- NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) which Hi_its_GOD lists as an anti-inflammatory, but is described on WebMD as used to treat Tylenol poisoning, says people use it for cough, and WebMD mentions: “It is also used for flu, dry eye, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using N-acetyl cysteine for COVID-19.”[16]
- Nattokinase “on an empty stomach”, which Hi_its_GOD says is for “Fibrin Breakdown”, and is described by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as something that has been promoted as an alternative cancer treatment but clinical data of effectiveness is lacking and that preliminary studies suggest it might prevent deep vein thrombosis, and warns of side effects, drug interactions, including a warning not to take alongside daily aspirin. The Memorial Sloan Kettering webpage also details some positively horrendous nattokinase adverse case reports.[17]
- Valtrex, which is an antiviral used to treat stuff like herpes, shingles, and chickenpox. It’s not approved for treatment of covid or long covid, but is considered as having “potential” as of early 2024.[18]
- Resveratrol, which Hi_its_GOD said is for “immune function”. This is a polyphenol, which WebMD warns that it should not be taken without talking to a doctor first if you’re using blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, NSAID painkillers, and some other supplements. It also says people with bleeding disorders should not take it without consulting a doctor first.[19]
- Ubiquinol Qunol (active form of CoQ10). John Hopkins warns that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is promoted as a solution to muscle pain that’s a side-effect of taking statins, but warns that people with that side-effect should just go back to the doctor and try another statin.[20] There are many to choose from, after all. Hi_its_GOD does not report being prescribed a statin in their spreadsheet list.
- “Triple Therapy” Plavix, Eliquis, Aspirin — This is NOT the triple therapy treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection[21] and not the triple therapy treatment for heart failure either.[22] From what I’ve seen people say on social media, this 3 anti-clotting drugs together regimen is something people think is originating with Jordan Vaughn, and has been picked up by other long covid clinics and doctors, but seems to originate from a preprint from March 2023, that’s not been published as of March 2024. It was a study of 91 patients with Long Covid in South Africa, coauthored by Gert J Laubscher, M Asad Khan, Chantelle Venter, Jan H Pretorius, Douglas B Kell, Etheresia Pretorius.[23]
- Ketotifen which Hi_its_GOD says is “Anti Maste Cell”. It’s an OTC (Over The Counter) antihistamine used for itch allergies for example, that nevertheless Mayo Clinic says under precautions: “It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits.” And as with many antihistamines, side effects include dizziness and drowsiness.[24]
- Xyza (Levocetirizine). It’s a OTC second-generation antihistamine, which doesn’t enter the brain as easily as first generation antihistamines, so therefore is less likely to cause drowsiness.[25]
- LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) Hi_its_GOD marked this one as “Immune Function / Anti Inflammatory”. This is a drug used to treat drug dependence, but which has for many years been promoted as expected to be a breakthrough treatment for all sorts of things at low doses. In 2010 Steven Novella wrote about this on Science-Based Medicine, calling it “a medical intervention with interesting research, but in a preliminary phase that does not justify clinical use. And yet proponents talk about it as if it is a medical revolution.”[26] That was in 2010, and in 2024, nothing much has been advanced, proven, nor authorized in the intervening years, but it’s still being trialed for things like Long Covid,[27] and still being prescribed off-label.
Hi_its_GOD also reports being prescribed but not taking Namenda, a dementia drug, which is shown to help people with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s, and apparently there were 2 smallish studies that showed a small benefit in vascular dementia, but it was considered low quality evidence.[28]
In the reddit thread where Hi_its_GOD posted this, the 2 replies remarked with concern on the sheer volume of meds, and one commented on some of the combinations and risks, and recommended getting a second opinion.[29] Hi_its_GOD also mentions being interested in Guanfacine for some reason, which is a blood pressure drug.[30]
On November 3, 2023, Hi_its_GOD makes another thread in r/covidlonghaulers to update on the “low dose naltrexone” and reports going off it, taking another dose in between, then discontinuing it again, and then initially feeling much better a few days later, saying “Dizziness head pressure had subsided and my mental faculties had returned to a previous state.” But then “ended up regressing back to the mean”, and essentially thinking aloud about how to come up with a winning dose strategy: “Not sure how to proceed back on 0.25 mgs of LDN and still in a terrible state. Perhaps I should try the LDN dose spike again? Maybe up my dose to .5 mgs?” Hi_its_GOD also mentions Guanfacine again.[31]
In January 2024, Hi_its_GOD appears to now more definitely be someone who blames long covid on vaccination as they started posting in the subreddit r/vaxrecoverygroup, including about some prime minister suggesting covid inoculation is causing injury.[32] Earlier in January they attempted to post something conspiratorial sounding about myocarditis and the covid vaccines in the r/covidlonghaulers subreddit,[33] but the thread post was deleted for breaking rule 8, which prohibits conspiracies and anti-vax content in r/covidlonghaulers.[34]
February 22, 2024 Hi_its_GOD posts a new thread reporting not getting relief from all the previous regimens, and reports that they’re 1 week in and finishing the 4th of 40 sessions of HBOT. That’s Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This is the treatment that uses the chamber where divers are treated for “The Bends” (Decompression Sickness).[35] It also is used for the treatment of people with vasculitis ulcers that are not healing.[36] Hi_its_GOD reports that they feel like they’re better than they have been since 2021. But then also reported that they’re getting “pretty acute left ear pain” so they’re planning on seeing an ENT and are concerned about their ear drum under the pressure in the hyperbaric chamber.
Hi_its_GOD said this HBOT treatment is costing $220 USD a session and they have to drive 3 hours to a facility to get the treatment because though they said they got the prescription script through Penn Medicine Long Covid Clinic, the local hospital network refused to do the treatment — Hi_its_GOD said because it’s “so novel and off label”.[37]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has a long history among “quack claims” promoting it for all sorts of things.[38] If you do a search for Hyperbaric Oxygen and unproven claims, one of the results is a tweet thread by Nick Mark MD, in June 2022, debunking FLCCC’s “ill defined post vax syndrome” and their unproven treatments for it being stuff that’s been promoted before for other things, like vitamin C, prescription meds like ivermectin, fluvoxamine, naltrexone, as well as hyperbaric oxygen, which Nick Mark points out comes with some risks if not done well, like middle ear injuries, tympanic membrane ruptures, lung collapse, and even references a story about a clinic director who went to jail after a hyperbaric chamber explosion killed a little boy and his grandma.[39] FLCCC is the group founded by Pierre Kory and got funding from The Brownstone institute.[40] Pierre Kory and Jordan Vaughn were interviewed together at the FLCCC conference in Phoenix Arizona early in 2024, where Kory states that he and Vaughn treat what they call vaccine syndromes.[41]
March 15, 2024, on Long Covid Awareness Day, Hi_its_GOD posts an update on their second week of HBOT. They report having had tubes inserted through the eardrums to help with the pressure they get from the hyperbaric oxygen sessions, because though they say they have a high tolerance of pain, it got so bad they thought it would rupture. Now they say they “get a decent amount of liquid drain after every session out of my left side”.
And though they previously said they initially saw improvement, now they’re reporting not having symptom relief: “As far as symptoms relief I hate to say that I am feeling pretty much the same, and my symptoms are still at my LC baseline. In my first post after week one I mentioned how I was feeling much better and hopeful for continued benefits. Not sure why this reboot of treatment didn’t yield me any results. Still have 30 more sessions to go.”[42]
And a few weeks later, on April 8, 2024 Hi_its_GOD HBOT updated on that same thread: “I am, not really seeing a beneficial effect unfortunately.”[43]
References:
[2] John Titor — From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John Titor and TimeTravel_0 are pseudonyms used on internet forums between 2000 and 2001 by an individual claiming to be an American military time traveler from the year 2036.[1][2] Their posts discussed various aspects of time travel, and described future calamitous events, including a global nuclear war. The uniform inaccuracy of their predictions and inconsistencies in their explanations has led many to view the story with skepticism. A 2009 investigation suggested that the entire affair was a hoax created by Larry Haber, a Florida entertainment lawyer, and his brother John Rick Haber, a computer scientist.[3] These claims have never been verified.
[5] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • June 6, 2023 Hi_its_GOD Question about Microclot pathology and Dr. Jordan Vaughn Visit (June 12th) So I was diagnosed with POTS by my cardio not too long ago and stumbled on this community on a whim when I googled POTS and long COVID (never really considered I had LC up until that point) and Came across the micro clots theory. […] I’ve honestly felt off since my first vaccine in April 2021. So did I make these microclots during these infection and vaccination events when spike protein was abundant and these clots have just stuck around since then? […] June 7, 2023 I submitted an online application because I’m out of state as well (Pennsylvania), but decided I didn’t want to wait any longer so called and made an in person appointment. […] June 8, 2023 Yep making the long drive down Sunday and snagging a place to sleep. Meeting is monday morning.
[6] How long does spike protein last after vaccination? Not long! — Debunk the Funk with Dr. Wilson Sep 5, 2023 for this one so this claim is really stupid anti-vaxxers are using this new paper to claim that the MRNA from the covid vaccine is producing Spike protein indefinitely not only does it not show that but we have known for years that the spike protein degrades like any protein does and the MRNA also degrades like any mRNA does
[7] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • June 26, 2023 Hi_its_GOD Anti viral with 3 anti cuagulants Question Met with Dr.Vaughn and was graded 3.5/4.0 scale of micro clots pervasiveness in PPP (platelet poor plasma). Something I’ve been struggling with is I’m supposed to take an antiviral in addition to the three blood thinners. The one they suggested and gave me a script for was ivermectin which I am hesitant given the studies. I’ve also read how the studies may have been constructed in such a way that they were designed to fail. Which antivirals have you considered taking, in light of viral persistence theory? Pavolix, metformin, acyclovir, ivermectin? Any insight would be appreciated.
[8] Ground Truths A Covid Update ERIC TOPOL DEC 16, 2023 I had considered also taking metformin because of the randomized trial showing it can help prevent Long Covid, but there aren’t any data yet that have assessed the combination of paxlovid and metformin.
[9] Mayo Clinic — Drugs and Supplements Ivermectin (Oral Route)
[11] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • June 26, 2023 Hi_its_GOD Met with Dr.Vaughn and was graded 3.5/4.0 scale of micro clots pervasiveness in PPP (platelet poor plasma). Something I’ve been struggling with is I’m supposed to take an antiviral in addition to the three blood thinners. The one they suggested and gave me a script for was ivermectin which I am hesitant given the studies. I’ve also read how the studies may have been constructed in such a way that they were designed to fail. Which antivirals have you considered taking, in light of viral persistence theory? Pavolix, metformin, acyclovir, ivermectin? Any insight would be appreciated. tele68 • June 26, 2023 I take Acyclovir if I think I have a recurring herpes simplex or Epstein Barre flare. I sense no problems with it.I also try Ivermectin since nothing works anyway. But Ivermectin is pretty harmless. It’s kind of a miracle drug but not miraculous enough for LC.
[12] Misinformation, Trust, and Non-Evidence-Based COVID-19 Treatments Misinformation drove 1 in 20 Americans to use useless therapies like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 infections. Scott Gavura on October 12, 2023 Early in the pandemic, and in the absence of any convincing evidence, hydroxychloroquine and later ivermectin were promoted as potential cures for COVID-19 infections. Despite multiple statements from FDA and other organizations, there was a significant increase in the demand for these products and also their prescription rates. A drug which is clinically ineffective, but has side effects, is arguably harmful, and both ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine met these conditions. Their use consequently contributed to worse outcomes and unnecessary expense for users.
[13] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers Hi_its_GOD August 6, 2023 Just finished my first month. My symptoms are about the same. No better. I’ve had long covid for about 2 years now so they say it takes some time before you see your symptoms improve. I’m going to continue treatment for at least another month. Hopefully by 3 months in my symptoms will improve. I’m just worried that the antiviral portion of all this is missing. We’re doing triple therapy to heal our endothelium and chronic inflammation, but the problem seems like the micro clots will always return if there is latent virus in our systems producing spike protein in this fibrin amyloid clots
[14] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • September 11, 2023 Hi_its_GOD First days of taking LDN It’s my first couple days in LDN (low dose naltrexone). I’m on day 4 right now. First two days I took 1.5 mg and by the second day I felt very dizzy and fatigued, to the point it was difficult to drive myself home from work. Also feeling weird head pressure. I’ve always had this head pressure since getting LC but it feels like the pressure has gotten much worse. Yesterday and today I lowered the dose to .75 mg by dissolving 1/2 of my capsules in water. Still dizzy and added head pressure but not as bad as the first two days. I honestly felt better when I wasn’t taking LDN but I have read that you need to get over the hump to feel better. Ill_Pangolin7384 — September 12, 2023 — Checkout the LDN Facebook group for dosing and symptom tips. They have like 5–10 years of compiled advice and articles. I used their info to help me titrate up. The advise going “low and slow” when you start LDN.
[15] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • October 1, 2023 Hi_its_GOD Does LDN help with Disautomia? Started LDN about 2 weeks ago initially at 1.5mg then took it down to .75mg and might go even lower. My main symptoms are dizziness and severe balance issues couples with brain fog and head pressure. Does LDN help with any of this? Also my brain fog and disautomia seem to be way worse since I have started, and seems to be affected my mood (Anhedonia) but may be linked to the fact that my symptoms are more profound and feeling very fatigued. Those that improved by LDN did it help your disautomia (dizziness, balance) symptoms? Does the Anhedonia go away?
[16] WebMD — N-Acetyl Cysteine (Nac) — Uses, Side Effects, and More N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) comes from the amino acid L-cysteine. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins. NAC has many uses and is an FDA approved drug. N-acetyl cysteine is an antioxidant that might play a role in preventing cancer. As a drug, it’s used by healthcare providers to treat acetaminophen (Tylenol) poisoning. It works by binding the poisonous forms of acetaminophen that are formed in the liver. People commonly use N-acetyl cysteine for cough and other lung conditions. It is also used for flu, dry eye, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using N-acetyl cysteine for COVID-19. Although many dietary supplement products contain N-acetyl cysteine, the US FDA has stated that it’s illegal for dietary supplements to contain N-acetyl cysteine since it’s technically an approved drug. But as of August 2022, the FDA is considering changing this stance. It may allow for N-acetyl cysteine in dietary supplements as long as no safety issues come up. A final decision is pending.
[17] Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — Nattokinase To prevent blood clots prevent deep vein thrombosis. To reduce high blood pressure Preliminary studies suggest nattokinase may lower blood pressure. Alzheimer’s disease Although animal models suggest nattokinase may degrade amyloid plaques, human studies have not been conducted. Cancer treatment Although nattokinase is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment, clinical data of its effectiveness are lacking. May increase the risk of bleeding when used with blood-thinning drugs Case reports Shortness of breath, mild chest pain, and blood clot: Causing a patient to undergo a repeat valve replacement after self-substituting nattokinase for warfarin for a long period of time. Internal bleeding that led to death: In an elderly woman who took over-the-counter nattokinase for irregular rapid heartbeat, and was not taking other blood thinners. Allergic reactions: Some severe, in patients who were allergic to nattō (fermented soybeans). Arm amputation: Due to tissue death resulting from injection of an oral enzyme supplement containing serrapeptase and nattokinase in an attempt to self-treat curvature of the penis. Patient Warnings: Theoretically, nattokinase can cause an existing clot to dislodge, resulting in a stroke or embolus at a distant location. Patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis should avoid of use nattokinase. Do Not Take if: You have coagulation disorders or are currently using an anticoagulant drug. You take aspirin daily: Nattokinase may increase its effects and lead to excessive bleeding.
[18] Life Medical Lab — January 25, 2024 Can Valtrex Be an Effective Treatment for COVID-19 during the Pandemic? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world, researchers and healthcare providers are exploring a variety of potential treatments to help combat the virus. One medication that has garnered attention in recent months is Valtrex, an antiviral drug commonly used to treat herpes infections. Further research is essential to ascertain the full potential of Valtrex as a treatment option for COVID-19. However, preliminary studies indicate that this widely used antiviral medication may hold promise in the fight against the virus.
[19] WebMD — Resveratrol Supplements Medically Reviewed by James Beckerman, MD, FACC on September 20, 2023 Written by Stephanie Watson People who have health conditions like bleeding disorders should not take resveratrol without talking to a doctor first. If you take any medicines or other supplements regularly, talk to your health care provider before you start using resveratrol supplements. They could interact with medicines like blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, cancer treatments, MAOI antidepressants, antiviral and antifungal medicines, NSAID painkillers, and supplements like St. John’s wort, garlic, and ginkgo.
[20] John Hopkins Medicine — The Truth About 4 Popular Heart Health Supplements Heart Health Heart and Vascular Food and Nutrition High Blood Pressure/Hypertension Reviewed By: Dr. Seth Shay Martin Seth Shay Martin, M.D., M.H.S. Proponents of CoQ10 say it helps reduce muscle pain, which can be a side effect of statin use, and is an important energy source that the body needs. “No solid evidence supports benefits of taking CoQ10 supplementation while taking statins,” Martin says. “If you’re taking statin drugs and have muscle aches, the next step is talking to your doctor about changing your prescription.”
[23] Gert J Laubscher, M Asad Khan, Chantelle Venter et al. Treatment of Long COVID symptoms with triple anticoagulant therapy, 21 March 2023, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2697680/v1]
[24] Mayo Clinic — Ketotifen (Oral Route)
[25] Levocetirizine — Wikipedia Levocetirizine is referred to as a non-sedating antihistamine as it does not enter the brain in significant amounts and is therefore unlikely to cause drowsiness.
[26] Science-Based Medicine — Low Dose Naltrexone — Bogus or Cutting Edge Science? Steven Novella on May 5, 2010 This type of medical pseudoscience is particularly challenging to deal with, because there is a scientific paper trail that seems to support many of the claims of proponents. The claims themselves may have significant plausibility, and parts of the claims may in fact be true. Efforts to educate the public about such treatments are frustrated by the mainstream media’s lazy tendency to discuss every study as if it were the definitive last word on a topic, and to site individual experts as if they represent the consensus of scientific opinion. Recent claims made for low dose naltrexone (LDN) fit nicely into this model — a medical intervention with interesting research, but in a preliminary phase that does not justify clinical use. And yet proponents talk about it as if it is a medical revolution.
[28] McShane R, Westby MJ, Roberts E, Minakaran N, Schneider L, Farrimond LE, Maayan N, Ware J, Debarros J. Memantine for dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Mar 20;3(3):CD003154. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003154.pub6. PMID: 30891742; PMCID: PMC6425228. Memantine has a small beneficial effect in people with moderate‐to‐severe AD. This benefit affects thinking, the ability to carry on normal daily activities, and the severity of behaviour and mood problems. Overall, it is well tolerated in those with moderate‐‐to‐severe AD, but it may cause dizziness in a few of the people taking it. An important result is that adding memantine to established ChEI treatment also results in less deterioration than placebo. However, in people with mild AD, memantine is probably no better than placebo. This is mainly moderate‐quality evidence. In vascular dementia, two studies in about 750 people indicated there is probably a small benefit for thinking difficulties, behaviour and mood, and there may be less agitation for memantine compared with placebo. This is moderate‐ or low‐quality evidence.
[29] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • October 16, 2023 Hi_its_GOD Current Neural Medication Stack — Am I taking too much? — NAC/LDN/Guanfacine Stack Success? Hey everybody, Intro: I am semi-functional (just barely lol) and run a restaurant with my brother. Been on this ride since Spring 2021 and mostly experience dysautonomia, dizziness, faintness, extreme head pressure and brain fog. I give an outward appearance that I got my stuff together and work often (perhaps too much but the food and hospitality is historically kinda crazy). I can walk around but pretty much feel a shell of my former self (I can barely chef, cook on the line and manage the front of the house) and lately it seems to be getting worse. I am currently working with Dr. Jordan Vaghn since May 2023 (5 Months) and he has me on this current regimen: NAC Labs Anti Inflammatory 300mg 2 600 mg Nattokinase Neprinol AFD Fibrin Breakdown 30,000 FU 2 60,000 FU Empty Stomach Valtrex valAcyclovir Anti-Viral 1 gm 3 3 gm Resveratrol Biodora Immune Function 800 mg 1 800 mg Ubiquinol Qunol 100 mg 1 100 mg active form of CoQ10 Plavix Clopidogrel Bisulfate Triple Therapy 75 mg 1 75 mg Eliquis Pfizer Apixaban Triple Therapy 5 mg 2 10 mg Aspirin Triple Therapy 325 mg 1 325 mg Ketotifen Anti Maste Cell 1 mg 1 1 mg Xyzal Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride Antihistamine 5 mg 15 mg Bedtime LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) Immune Function / Anti Inflammatory .75 mg 1 .75 mg Bedtime (Suspect this is causing me problems) Namenda (not taking) Memantine HCL Dementia Drug 5 mg 1 5 mg prescribed not taking Guanfacine (interested) Not taking but reading good results I honestly think all these pills might be too much (17 pills daily) and with the addition of the Low dose Naltrexone recently it seems my symptoms have gotten much worse. I am reading of people taking the stack of NAC/LDN/Guanfacine to some success and its tempting. Has anyone managed their dysautomia/neural symptoms kinda successfully? Am I taking too many drugs? I’ve been on LDN for about a 4 weeks, do I just need to “push through”? I am even having trouble typing this post coherently. Any insight would be helpful. — hburrr7 • October 17, 2023 Christ. Definition of throwing the book at it. oyvay43 • October 17, 2023 For my opinion this is too much at once. I see a lot stuff with many possible side effects. Nattokinase and LDN alone is something that should be handled very carefully. All of the 4 blood related drugs are overlapping in their effects highly. Resveratrol and NAC, Ubiquinol together does not make sense, because the latter repeal the autophagy effect of Resveratrol. Get a second opinion and better start with single medicines, trying, what works for you and slowly tapering up. Your job situation also sounds like a lot of rest could give you some relief at least.
[30] Mayo Clinic — Guanfacine (Oral Route)
[31] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • November 3, 2023 Hi_its_GOD A moment of bliss. Can’t tell if LDN is working or making it worse I started taking 1.5 mg of LDN about a month and a half ago. This turned out to be way too much (All my neurological and POTS symptoms were exacerbated) and I ended up calling my doctor and asking for a smaller dose. Currently at 0.25 mg Last week I had two days off in a row and decided to take 1.5 mg again. Both days were terrible and a zombie-like so I decided to cut LDN out completely. The following 2 days of abstinence from LDN after spiking my dose to 1.5 mgs we’re about the same. Fairly bad symptoms but three days out of taking my LDN spike I felt better than I’d ever felt before. I would say around 75% of where I was before long haul. Dizziness head pressure had subsided and my mental faculties had returned to a previous state. I decided to stop taking LDN, Hoping that this improve state will be permanent but ended up regressing back to the mean. Not sure how to proceed back on 0.25 mgs of LDN and still in a terrible state. Perhaps I should try the LDN dose spike again? Maybe up my dose to .5 mgs? Any LDN Success stories out there? I’m feeling like I should drop it and start guanfacine.
[34] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers Rule 8 No conspiracies, no misinformation, no anti-vaccine content As with the rule on no discussion on covid origins, this is not the place to theorize on government /institutional conspiracies, whether related to covid, long covid, or any other disease. No misinformation. No anti-vaccine content.
[35] Decompression sickness From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[36] Efrati S, Bergan J, Fishlev G, Tishler M, Golik A, Gall N. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for nonhealing vasculitic ulcers. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007 Jan;32(1):12–7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365–2230.2006.02240.x. Epub 2006 Jul 27. PMID: 16879451. Conclusion: HBO therapy may serve as an effective safe treatment for patients with vasculitis having nonhealing skin ulcers. Further studies are needed to evaluate its role as primary therapy for this group of patients.
[37] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • February 22, 2024 Hi_its_GOD Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) 1 week-in Hey just finished my 4th of 40 sessions of HBOT and my first impressions is that this is the best I’ve felt since spring 2021. I’ve tried the slew of supplements, acyclovir, and been on triple therapy since May 2023 all to no avail. I did try LDN and titrated from a very low dose (.25 mg) but had very bad fatigue and had to stop. My symptoms include dysotomia, persistent head pressure, dizziness, very bad brain fog, fatigue and balance issues. I tested for fibrin microclots and classified as a 3.5/4 with Dr. Vaughn at Medhelp. I am fortunate enough to still be able to work, though albeit at a very diminished level then I previously could. This is the first time I’ve felt likey old self again. I mostly feel rejuvenated right after the session but with every session this new sense of normalcy feels like it is extending and fortifying. I am quite fatigued though. My only issue so far is some pretty acute left ear pain so seeing an ear nose and throat doctor next week to make sure I dont blow out an ear drum. Apparently they can insert a tube in the ear to help equalize the pressure. Dropped $8800 ($220 a session) and have to drive 3 hours a day to get to the facility but if this raises baseline it’s all worth it. I have read you can get a soft shell unit at home, though not as effective as the commercial grade (can only get to 1.3ish atm vs 2.0), it can help with maintaining elevated baseline. Initially got a script from Penn Medicine long COVID clinic to try and get it done closer to home but local hospital network refused treatment because it’s so novel and off label. Will try and update with results as I go.
[38] Groundup — Quack claims about oxygen treatment are dangerous. Charlatans exploit patients for financial gain, say doctors 15 March 2019 | By Natasha Bolognesi The South African company O2xygenate claims mHBOT can be used for a string of indications including cancer, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy amongst others — none of which is approved for treatment with HBOT or mHBOT. O2xygenate also advertises its services for diabetic ulcers and burns — conditions indicated as treatable with HBOT only. Treatment costs range from R500 an hour to R8,000 for 20 treatments. The company also sells soft hyperbaric chambers for home use.
[39] The Internet Archive threadreader save of twitter.com thread Nick Mark MD @nickmmark 10:32 AM · Jun 1, 2022 What about the “I-RECOVER” protocol itself? It calls for 6 prescription medications, a dozen OTC meds/vitamins/supplements, various behavioral interventions, and hyperbaric oxygen! Yikes! The prescription meds are the typical FLCCC snake oil cures: — ivermectin — hydroxychloroquine — fluvoxamine — chronic steroids — naltrexone I’ve reviewed the evidence & debunked most of these COVID treatments before. […] Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a worrisome new direction for COVID misinformation. HBOT has legitimate uses: decompression, CO poisoning, etc But like vitC, HBOT has long been hyped by quacks as a miraculous cure for cancer & other illnesses. https://fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-get-facts There’s a long history of HBOT pseudoscience. Most impressive was this 5 story, spherical hospital built in 1928. It’s creator was initially a reputable doctor but made millions selling HBOT as a miracle cure. Some parallels worth considering https://onepagericu.com/blog/spherical-sanitarium-what-can-a-900-ton-steel-sphere-teach-us-about-medicine HBOT has minimal evidence of efficacy in long COVID & nothing in this make-believe ill defined post vax syndrome. I found one medical hypothesis paper proposing HBOT in long COVID & one n=10 clinical trial. Not compelling https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7456590/ https://rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/21/6/e629 Fortunately HBOT is relatively safe, at least when performed by docs who know how to use it. (Needless to say many of the quacks prescribing HBOT aren’t boarded in hyperbaric medicine. There are some risks, especially with untrained staff. https://fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-get-facts
[40] Important Context — Who is Funding the Brownstone Institute? New tax filings provide some clarity about the funders of the prolific COVID-19 conspiracy outfit. WALKER BRAGMAN JUL 24, 2023 For example, Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), a group that promotes quack COVID treatments like ivermectin and hypes up concerns about the safety of the mRNA vaccines, got $55,000. Last week, the group’s founder, critical care physician Dr. Pierre Kory, invited his Twitter followers to join him in celebrating “the millions of lives saved by ivermectin in Covid,” calling it “an uplifting story as well as a tragic one due to one of History’s most massive global Disinformation campaigns.”
[41] Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson April 7, 2024 — COVID Concerns
[42] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • March 15, 2024 Hi_its_GOD HBOT (week 2) Update Hey guys happy long COVID awareness day. Just finished my second week of HBOT and just wanted to update. It’s 2 weeks late because needed to stop treatment in order to get these tubes inserted through the eardrums to help with the pressure. Have a pretty high pain tolerance but got so bad that I thought I was going to rupture one. Luckily the procedure is pretty routine and only takes about a half an hour. I also recommend trying to have a clear nose/sinus during treatment because the head pain can get pretty intense during the diving process. I just use some nose spray before my appointment if I’m feeling really congested. As far as symptoms relief I hate to say that I am feeling pretty much the same, and my symptoms are still at my LC baseline. In my first post after week one I mentioned how I was feeling much better and hopeful for continued benefits. Not sure why this reboot of treatment didn’t yield me any results. Still have 30 more sessions to go. In my last post someone mentioned how they themselves and others seeing benefit from 2.4 atms for 60 mins vs 2.0 for 60mins that I am currently undertaking. If anyone is following along see you next week :) crycrycryvic • March 15, 2024 Wait, wouldn’t equalizing the pressure in your ears like one does when diving work??? Inserting tubes sounds pretty intense. I’m sorry this second session wasn’t helpful, hope the next one is! Hi_its_GOD • March 15, 2024 The way the doctor explained it the tubes are there to relieve pressure behind the eardrum. I get a decent amount of liquid drain after every session out of my left side.
[43] Reddit — r/covidlonghaulers • Hi_its_GOD HBOT April 8, 2024 I am, not really seeing a beneficial effect unfortunately
